Elaine Mackie

My last week has gone really well. I successfully completed everything I had been assigned throughout my 8 weeks here which I am very happy about.I completed all my studies and presented them to the relevant committees.

On Thursday I had arranged an exit presentation which I invited my department and other departments that I have worked with to along with some HR representatives my department head and the head of talent development and global sourcing strategy. There was just under 30 people present and I bought them all cakes as it is apparently mandatory on your last week. I started my presentation with a bit about myself, my education, past internships, Saltire Foundation then went on to discuss some of the projects I had worked on before topping it off with my future plans and thanking everyone. I found it easy to fill 30 minutes as I had so much to talk about and managed to get a laugh at the end when I joked about one of the tasks I had been assigned. I was very surprised at just how appreciative everone was of the work I have done over the summer and everyone was impressed by my willingness to learn. I had prepared feedback forms so I could get some reviews of my work/attitude/technical ability/presentation skills and I almost cried at my desk when I read what my colleges and managers had written because it was all so positive and nice.

I have really enjoyed my time at Rolls-Royce Indianapolis and I can't believe how much I've learned and how much confidence I have found while I've been here. Working for Rolls-Royce is something that has made me really proud to be able to say I am part of such a high profile company and I will never forget this.

Lets not forget all the fun I've had with everyone Ive met here which has really been great too. I have one more weekend to party then I'll be on the plan with my brand new rolls royce t-shirt!

Good bye Indy...I'll be back.

over and out!

xElainex

Week Six

had a struggle with my budget last week. I was informed by finance that the Service Engineering budget was $1.2 Million less than what Austin (Chief Service Engineer) had told me it should be... this worried me a lot and my group spent a whole morning laughing because “I” had lost a million dollars and were convinced that I had bought myself a boat! After a couple of hours of following up I finally worked out that Jerry the financial worker I was speaking with was actually talking about the 2009 budget and not the current budget which I was asking him about! Panic over without even having to break the news to Austin!

The research which I am doing on Front Frames is all coming together nicely and everyone who has seen my paper have said that I am doing a really good job so far. I finally found a common reason for the event which has occurred on 52 engines so I can now back up my solution. I have 6 lovely histograms and a weibul chart which all point to a soft time life limit on the part. Now I just have to polish my business case and go in front of the committee to get approval at the end of the week.

At work I was given 2 Rolls Royce hospitality tickets for the Indy Air show on Sunday which took place at Mount Comfort Airport. Our hospitality area had a really spectacular view and we saw every aircraft up close as it ran round the runway right in front of our area. There was lots of RR employees in the hospitality area and I got set on making the most of the day and getting some networking in. After a couple of hours I think I had spoke to someone from every engineering department in Plant 8 and had 12 more people request an invite to my exit presentation next week. I think that when people realize I’m from Scotland and am interning over her they want to know more and how I got this opportunity. I have successfully spread word about the SF to pretty much every person I’ve spoken to! I have been asked several times to “tell ------ about your foundation Elaine its really great” 

Well over half of the aircrafts had Rolls Royce engines and after the air shows were finished me and my friend Sarah took a walk around the planes and Helicopters for a closer look. Because we had VIP wrist bands we were permitted to enter all the aircrafts and even sit in the cockpits! It was a great day.

On Sunday evening I was lucky enough to attend the first ever NFL Football game to take place in the Indianapolis Colts new Stadium. I have never been in a stadium that was so big ever (except maybe Nou Camp but that wasn’t shiny and new like this!). The atmosphere was amazing and everyone even got a certificate to say they had been at the first game which I’ll be bringing home with me to put on my fridge. The national anthem was sung by a girl who was in American Idol and it was so exciting when the big flag was rolled out across the whole field and then fireworks went off!

So I had a good week and weekend.

Will update you next week, its Labor Day weekend so I’m going away since I have Monday off work.

Elaine x

Week 5

This week I met a man called Bill Lorimer who is Scottish. He was an apprentice for Rolls Royce in Hillington before working in East Kilbride and finally being transfered to Indianapolis where he has been for 20 years. Bill still have a very broad Scottish accent which impresses me greatly. I'm currently waiting on his team to collaborate some engines which have been tested for me to use in a business study. The research I'm undergoing involves the impact of not removing a small part every time that the front frame is disassembled. The problem is finding engines which visit the shop and only have this one change and nothing else changed which is very unlikely and if I base my findings on engines which have have multiple changes my research will be worthless. I'm hopping that this week I get some good engines going for shop visits so I can prove what I hope happens.

Had a meeting with the Chief Service Engineer on Friday and it went really well, he was happily surprised at the amount of projects I have taken on as he didn't realise I was doing quite so much work. He also managed to fill my 'To Do' list up some more but passing his budget distribution onto me. Its amazing how everyone becomes your friend when they find out that you will have a say in determine how many millions of dollars they get for the rest of the year. I'm excited about the budget even though it has no technical content it amazes me to see how much money engine parts cost and how one single unexpected event can knock off a whole years spending.

I was at an "Ultimate BBQ Rib Master" party at me friend Brooke's house yesterday. It was really fun (even though I hate ribs) they had a slip and slide which I loved and we played some 'corn hole' and 'hillbilly golf which were fun lawn games they all taught me. After a few cocktails I managed to eat on rib so I could take part in the vote for best BBQ'er. There was plenty of other sides and some chicken so I was well feed and watered.

Next week looks to be another busy week in the office so will tell you all about it soon.

Elaine x

Week 4

This week I worked away on my projects and have made good progress. I am feeling confident about presenting my findings and business cases to the committee next week. The serviced engineering group had a pretty tough week this week and it was all systems go on Wednesday morning when we had 2 flights on ground with only 4 hours to determine the problems and actions for the two aircrafts. I couldn't believe when I looked at my watch and it was noon because I had been rushing about so much that time had flew by!

On Wednesday afternoon we had a C&R department event at the bowling alley near work. Due to the two events which had taken place in the morning we were a bit late when we arrived and had to speed bowl to catch up. The day was really fun and I got the chance to chat to people from other related departments. In three games I managed to get 3 strikes and even a score over 100 for my last game, woohoo.

Friday was the farewell to summer interns. Since most of the US universities start their first semester in late August most of the interns were finishing last and this week. It was a good farewell we received a presentation from the Intern regulator who gave us alot of good career advise.

This weekend I went to the Indiana State Fair. It was a completely different from anything I have been to before. There were elephant rides, the circus, lumberjacks, hundreds of farm animals an different stalls. It was a really fun day.

will write soon.

Elaine x

Week Three

On Monday there was an ‘all hands on meeting’ for the AE Corporate and Regional part of the business. This included Service engineering (my department),

The meeting mainly covered communications between the diferent sections of AE Corporate and Regional and different techniques of project management that were inplace and which were considered most effective by the team members.

I am still working on my study and I will be presenting my findings at a stand up meeting on Tuesday. I’m pretty nervous but I’ve worked hard to understand everything I have researched so I will be prepared for any grilling questions that I have been warned I may receive from other departments.

On Thursday I went with Tom Shook to the testing facility and we did some tests with the 'sniffer' there have been a few set backs to do with the testing and on Thurday we tested during simulations of take off, in flight and landing. These all went sucessfuly which was a plesent surprise as there had been a few discrepancies the previous day during similar testing.

No set plans for the weekend but now that we have a car we can explore some of downtown and hopefully see some sights!

Elaine x

Week Two

Last week was another exciting week at Rolls Royce for me. I have been working away on my projects and been given a study to complete about a reoccurring event which effects the Front Frame of the engines. I am learning new techniques of analysis which is really interesting and will be extremely helpful from my individual project next year at university.

The AE Corporate and Regional section of the business (where I work) deals with small aircrafts which usually carry around 50 passengers and is owned by airlines and very rich (and very lucky) individuals all over the world. The engine which I am mainly working on is the AE 3007 which is a Single-stage, direct-drive, wide-chord fan which gives high efficiency and low noise. It's all very interesting and I know more about this engine already than I thought I'd ever understand!
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Last week I attended and presentation which was about the role of a technical pilot called Steve Simons. I had no idea there was even such a position to hold but it is really important. Steve has over 20 years of experience of flying different types of aircrafts. His experience is invaluable to Rolls Royce as he now advices of improvements and asses how adjustments to engines and software will effect the pilots of the AE 3007 aircrafts. He also trains pilots on new software when new versions are released, at these training sessions he also gets a chance to discuss qualms  the pilots have with the equipment and ask their views on what they would like to see in the future.

At the weekend Euan and I went to the Miller Lite Rock 'N Racing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the practice days for the NASCAR racers who take part in the Allstate 400 race the following day. It was really fun and I got lots of photos of cool cars and there was a band on afterward which was good.

That is all for now. I shall inform you of this weeks activity soon.

Elaine x

End of Week One

Hi There!

On Monday I went to the training center and had my new employee orientation. Our neighbor Angela drops us off at work in the morning because there is no public transport anywhere so luckily she was going in early enough for our training. The orientation went well and was just standard form filling and security briefing. The woman taking the orientation was called Margie and her husband is a judge in a local court. She said that Euan and I could go with her the court one evening which would be really interesting so I hope she does!

Tuesday was scheduled to be a student induction but there had been a mix up so after a bit of sitting about in the lobby we were sent home. Lucy Gray who is our HR contact gave us a ride home which was really nice of her.

Wednesday was when the real work started and after getting a security briefing and pass I was taken to my department 'Service Engineering'. I met my manager Austin Lynch who introduced me to everyone I would be working with. I have been set some tasks as a start to my internship which include:

Reviewing Limited Life Part (LLP) cycles on a database called Maintenix and reviewing customer LLP data to identify and investigate any discrepancies.

Complete a training plan and curriculum for service engineer skill set.

Create a procedure for agreeing to, tracking and developing technical presentations.

Evaluate technical variances and manual updates.

So that should keep me busy for a while! Yesterday I was lucky enough to go to the test site and stand right up inside a 3007A engine which was being tested using a new device called a 'sniffer' which is used to detect odours and distinguish between them to evaluate the source of the odours i.e if the odour is human body odour or fuel odour. It was so interesting and I'm going to be lucky enough to work along side the team who are testing and implementing it!

So good so far having a wonderful time.

xElainex

Day One

Well we arrived safely to our apartment which is lovely. Another intern from Rolls Royce called Richard picked Euan and I up from the airport which was very nice of him.

Today I've been food shopping which was fun but the mile walk back with the bags was less fun! I think my arms are twice the length they were before but thats the big initial shop out the way!

After lunch I think I'll go to the mall for a wee shop.

So glad we are finally here and I can't wait to start work on Monday and see what the plant is like :)

xElainex